By outreach@cw.ua.edu (Cody Estremera)

Alcatraz, the Great Wall of China and the Seattle Seahawk defense were all supposed to be inescapable and impenetrable. Alcatraz had prisoners escape, the Great Wall didn’t actually stop anyone and the Seahawks defense lost the Super Bowl to the Patriots. Unlike these three, the Alabama women’s basketball team could do no wrong on defense.

It took 17 minutes 32 seconds for Lipscomb to put the first shot in the bottom of the net. Alabama started the game on a 39-0 run, and finished the half up 45-3. The Crimson Tide won 82-35.

“We were just trying to come out and play hard and do what we had to do,” Meo Knight said. “We came out and had a lot of confidence.”

The Crimson Tide (3-0) held the Lady Bisons (0-3) to just 22-percent shooting from the field, and just 18 percent from beyond the arc. However, in the first half the Lady Bisons only shot three percent, 1-29 shooting, and zero percent, 0-12 from further out.

“Every shot needs to be contested, that was the game plan,” coach Kristy Curry said. “We did a really good job of contesting every shot.”

The team was once again balanced on offense. Five different members scored in double figures, led by Hannah Cook with 13 points. Jordan Lewis and Cook tied for the team lead in rebounds with eight. Coco Knight scored in double figures for the first time in her Alabama career.

Before the game Curry stressed that the free throw shooting needs improvement. The team had been shooting 61 percent from the foul line. Tonight the team made 70 percent, 14 of 20, of its shots.

“I’m still not pleased with the team not shooting over 75 percent,” Curry said. “Free throw shooting is a routine, it’s something that needs practice. Its repetition and focus. We have four players that have to shoot free throws on Saturday. If you aren’t over 75 percent you have to come in the next work day and make 100. Free throws can beat you.”

With 6 minutes left in the first half Cook took a shot to the eye. She came back and played 10 minutes in the second half simply because of the blowout.

“I was curling off a screen and I got knocked in the eye, I felt like I was in a Rocky Balboa movie,” Cook said. “I bounced back and we had a good team win.”

Alabama looks to continue its undefeated season against Georgia Southern on Tuesday at 7 p.m.

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Source:: The Crimson White Sports